lappir

13 hours ago, Angie M said:

Ok I think I may have found the answer. If not, I’ll answer everyone’s questions. I thought the batteries were fully charged because the InCommand said I had 13.8 volts. But it dawned on me that maybe that’s because I’m plugged in. I unplugged it and surprise. Batteries 4.9.   Then I checked the battery disconnect and Turned it the opposite way and I immediately heard the converter turn on.  We just took our RV in for repair and were told by the tech that we had that switched turned the wrong way and he turned it around and that actually was off. So it’s been off since 12/28.  So I’m going to give the batteries time to charge up and see what happens.  Our batteries are brand new as of October  the kind that don’t require water. Optima yellow top DH7. Two of them. 

Sure wouldn't use that RV repair facility again. Be sure to inform them if the current issue it appears they may have started. 

Rod

Tough situation, hope all goes well. 

I bought my first Toyhauler in Utah, pulled it to Iowa for registration and finally got the plates and such in Florida a month or so later. Good luck. 

Rod

Lots of things factor into the plan. Where is your pin, is it in front of the main body of the trailer or under it? Does your trailer have a flat front or is it sort of slanted away from the center? What type of hitch are you using? 

I've done at least three different positions with my trailer. The first one was too close and the top of my box caught the top corner of the trailer on it's first big trip going over some very low bumps and turning at the same time. The latest (last Summer) was tested at the HDT Rally when I had the updated truck and trailer weighed, Trey and Susan were my observers as I turned with my slider hitch in the forward most position. I will have to measure later to see where it lies currently. I don't have an air ride hitch any longer so that needs to be taken into consideration. 

Rod

If you just have a straight pipe on the exhaust, adding a muffler will certainly help. Not sure what motor you have, but when I got my latest truck last summer it had no muffler and was quite loud, especially using the Jake. I found a Junked truck with a good stack and had it put on. Much more quiet. We considered just putting a muffler and keeping the weed burner, but it would have cost twice as much and may not have lasted as long as I hope this one does. 

Rod

Finished up the inspection and return to service. Sorry no photos, I did think about them, but usually after I'd already done what I could'a, would'a, should'a. I'm not a pro utuber that wakes up, turns on the camera, makes sure it's got the right position and then pretends to sleep and wake up to the camera. 

Anyway. Found nothing wrong except some awful plumbing. Why does it seem like there are 40 connections in my little Water/electrical bay? AND once again I ask why is the water and electric in the same location????

When I finally decide to build the solar, batteries, inverters and such One of the systems is being moved to a whole new area. Not sure which one just yet, but it will happen. I think about doing it every time I work on something, but decide if I'm going to do it I only want to do it once. 

I put in another shut off that is positive. I don't know why it's there, because it does not seem to work at all, but what looks like a shut off does nothing. The added one works and keeps "City" pressure off the output side of the pump. I also put a pump shut off switch in the bay and removed a "Wire Nut and Tape" connection. 

The pump is 90% more quiet in the bay and I may not even hear it at all inside. Not sure what I did to make it more quiet, but I'm happy. 

Rod

PS, thanks for the comments and suggestions. 

rl

Did a search for the info in the title and nothing useful came back so here I go. 

During the latest cold snap I disconnected from the "City" water and started using the full fresh water tank. Usually that's not an issue, but I noticed during the night I'd hear the water pump cycle and found some dampness around the pump where it was installed. 

The immediate fix was to turn the pump on only when required and that worked well. A couple of days ago I decided to try and investigate further, but really could not see where the pump was, or is leaking. I've removed it from the mount, but left it in the compartment and the compartment has not completely dried yet. (There were plenty of leaks as I was removing the pump and I found my water heater drains back into the fresh tank when all water is shut off.) I now know why my electric heating element failed, apparently when I had the inverter and batteries replaced there was enough current to heat up the element while moving down the road. I'll fix that too. 

So I went on line first and of course Amazon came up first in the search, but I'm looking for info about rebuilding the pump. There is a bit of crusting near the outlet side where the housing mates with the plastic hooked to the round motor. I'm wondering if I need to see if there is a "Gasket" set I can use.  Anybody taken one apart? 

Thanks in advance for any responses. 

Rod

13 hours ago, Expat2B said:

Also curious about this.  Currently in FL but about to sell vehicle and head overseas.  Want to keep FL DL using Escapees Bushnell address.

I didn't go back to the OP, but I think the person was trying to obtain a license without a vehicle. If you already have it, you shouldn't have to worry till it's time to renew. You could try going to a DL station to inquire, but don't pick one in Palm Beach or Dade Counties unless you Really have to. Visit Hendry, or another less populated county if you are in central or north Florida. 

Rod

Just now, GeorgiaHybrid said:

Another thing to remember about a natural gas fuel supply. When the electrical grid demands are greater than the primary supply, most utility companies use combined cycle gas turbine for backup power due to their easy, fast startup and shutdown capabilities.

They do consume huge amounts of natural gas however and have priority over home supply lines for obvious reasons. I would lean towards a self supply of any fuel required for a generator by using LP or diesel in a tank combined with generator sized for your needs.

Good point David, actually never thought about the Electrical Utility's using Natural gas. I knew they did, but "assumed" they somehow had an unlimited supply. Lot's of things can interrupt the supply of Natural gas that I didn't even think about. 

Rod

To me the key element is the word "MOVE". 

Are you moving for a short time and not setting up a NEW residence? 

Do you share domicile, want the best of both locations and have not plans to ever change the actual home at either place. 

It would be nice if there was an option of a National License, registration and insurance for those of us who move from place to place. Hopefully the rates would be reasonable since a lot of us avoid the high cost, high Crime and more dangerous areas. 

Rod

6 hours ago, Lou Schneider said:

It's not just tornados or earthquakes that can interrupt natural gas service.  When I moved up to WA my new bride told me when they lose electricity in the winter they shelter in place using blankets to block off the room with the gas fireplace and cook on the outdoor gas grill.  The year before I got there they got a major snowstorm which cut the electricity for about a week.  The town's natural gas storage tank ran out the third day stopping the flow through the gas lines.

Never been to the NW for any length of time. I'll have to remember that if I go during the winter some day. Make sure I have additional propane for sure. 

Rod

In my opinion it's not a good time to purchase much of anything new. There are just too few actual reputable people in business. Those that are and are showing a good profit are being searched out, offered tons of money to buy them out. The buyer uses that "Good Faith" and starts being more concerned about profit and the "Bottom" line. It's in my opinion what Amazon has done right under our eyes and continues to do so. Walmart did it first. Bring back the days of Sears or Montgomery Wards Catalogs where yes, they were a large retailer, but they sold quality products and stood behind them to the best of my knowledge. 

Maybe back in the early days of Sears there were folks like me that distrusted them and maybe they came around after a while. I still get very angry when I hear or see someone suggest using "Amazon" for all that they use. Support your local business and if something breaks take it right back to "your neighbor" who may have sold it to you. 

The real insanity we are not allowed to post about. 

Rod

19 hours ago, rickeieio said:

Camper is backed in the shop so won't freeze.  But now I have no way to move it out, and need to do some oil changes and other maintenance on a few vehicles.  Shop is too short to allow that with the camper inside.

Fortunately, the CG has no pre-pay for reservations, and is very easy to deal with.  I called yesterday and moved our reservation back two weeks, and agreed to let them know as soon as we can, whether or not we'll be good with those dates.  And yes, we may stay a few days in some over-flow area with no hook-ups.  No big deal.

So, we grabbed some clothes out of the camper, brought all the refrigerable and frozen stuff home, and will adjust as needed.  I left a few items in the truck that I will need, so will likely run over there tomorrow bring to get some essentials, like glasses and such.

You don't have a tractor with a loader? I'd think  with your tools and equipment you could fab up a connection to hook to the bucket or better yet "Fork" and pull it in and out as needed. Spacecraft and most RV dealers either use a large fork lift or a tractor and loader to move around all of the trailers. In fact, my Dad had a Storage unit for Campers and used a Four Wheel Drive little "Ford" tractor with a 3 point hitch dealybob for bumper pulls and some pretty large 5ers.  I almost had forgotten about that. 

Rod

16 hours ago, Larry Burkett said:

Our generator is a Generac 14 kw whole house generator, and is plumbed directly into the gas line that comes to the house from the street. 

Last February a Tornado struck Norman, OK where my youngest lived. In fact the photo/video shown the most on TV channels and the internet was taken from her back yard at the time. 

The house she lived in was just off the direct path of the storm and had significant damage, but they were able to move back in in  a couple days. I assumed the electric power would have been turned off, but was surprised to find out the "Natural" gas had also been turned because the gas meters from the totally destroyed homes were pulled loose from their connections.

Having a backup generator without a back up fuel supply may not be working in case of a similar situation. 

Rod

15 hours ago, Kirk W said:

That is a great reason to open an old thread. I hope that someone knows the answer. I gather that you didn't get anything back?

Anyone know the "Statute of Limitations" on a situation such as that? If you find the prior owners and they are rolling in dough do you have a recourse? No personal reason for inquiring, but it came to mind when reading the posts. 

Rod

All that work getting ready and then BAM. Hopefully the wallet isn't unpacked too much before you head out again. Can you leave the home on wheels packed or do you have to unload it and then load back up again? 

Rod

My Son rides motorcycles and found out he could license his "Dirt Bike" in South Dakota and ride it anywhere. Apparently the requirements are less in SD to make it road worthy. I hasn't done it yet to my knowledge, but did complain about his last trip to Colorado where they had to trailer the bikes to the trail head and then had to reverse the trail instead of taking public roads back to the trailer. I offered him the use of "My Home Address", but he said that wasn't needed. 

Rod

2 hours ago, rickeieio said:

While tax avoidance is a concern, it's none of my business, nor my job, to assure a vendor is honest.  That goes for reporting tips as well.  My job is to be fair, and pay less if I can do so without cheating anyone.  to that end, having some ready cash has served me well.  Just this morning, I had a local mechanic help me with a truck issue.   When I asked him what I owed him, he said "How about $100?"  I told him he was too cheap, and handed him a $100 bill.  It's on him to report it, or not.  But I guarantee you, if I need his help again, he'll be there for me.

My guy is the same way and if I can I pay him in cash for sure. I'm sad he is 10 years older than me and will completely retire some day and there's no one to even come close to replacing him. 

Rod

ps, fully agree with the quoted content. 

1 hour ago, jenandjon said:

We have a generator that runs off the PTO on a tractor. Similar to this. I will get a picture of our setup later today. It's all hooked up and ready to plug in if I need to. 

PTO Generators | Northern Tool

My dual fuel with a 50 amp plug already wired in was a lot less expensive than any of those PTO unit's listed. 

Rod

Do you have a Generator in your RV?

Is it close to you Home?

How much do you use the RV Genny?

Last year I bought a "Dual Fuel" Westinghouse portable generator that will power my whole house on wheels, but it's noisy doing so and a 20lb tank wouldn't keep up with it during single digit temps. Worked fine when I filled it up with Gas. a few weeks ago before the near zero degree cold spell I finally started it again on LP and hopefully found a way to keep the tank heated if the power went out. It didn't and I didn't test my theory, maybe I will never have to now. 

I do want to change the location of it so it's farther away from my sleeping area and I need to remember to get more of those "Soft" ear plugs until then. 

Rod

It's been cloudy, and dreary the last week and I have spent way too much time watching YouTube Shorts. 

Why are there so many ladies in bathing suits showing themselves doing the "Cold Plunge"?

I'm not complaining, just wondering. 

They all seem so happy.  I've attached a Poll. 

It's too much trouble for me to build a pool and I'm not sure I want to drive to the lake to try it. I'm thinking just the fact that I never wear a coat or jacket outside during the winter is enough. Is water actually required? 

This has been occupying my mind for a while and if you have read this far, I'm sorry if it's taken hold in yours too. 

Rod

1 hour ago, Randyretired said:

I am building a new off grid place and will use a solar powered  induction stove. This will be my first introduction to induction cooking. Building enough solar to provide enough power during December and January requires a large system. 

For sure, especially if you also want to use some of the electricity to heat other things too. I haven't tried it yet, but I think my new PSW inverter would power the induction cook plate just fine. I know my Honda 2000 gas inverter does fine, but it's just 110/120 volt. 

I talked to someone at the OKC Home Show last weekend and may go look at a replacement Cooktop. I have a Gas cooktop that hasn't been used very much at all in my home.  They reported their least expensive was under 1K, which is close to my budget. 

Rod

I have used a couple of those type hoses, but not for drinking water. They are OK, but have several limitations. I personally don't drink water from a "Hose" anymore. I will use it to brush my teeth, but it doesn't go into my coffee, tea or any thing that requires dilution before serving. The last one I used lasted maybe 100 uses and then got a few pinholes in it from unknown sources. It was several years old, but spent most of it's life in my Mother's garage and was only used by me when I visited during the summers. She passed and I used it for another couple years in a similar fashion, but in a different location. Will most likely still use, because the small leaks don't cause me significant issues and I use it only to supply water to my pressure washer. One of the limitations is the loss of pressure if you are trying to use it by itself to wash a car, motorcycle or driveway. 

Rod

Continuing to learn about the induction cooking. 

On a whim yesterday I had a large steel can that had more of the product in it than I thought I would consume. Decided to empty part of into a plastic container and set the remaining on the induction cooktop while I placed the to be used later container. (Unfortunately have forgotten I'd put something in a container, sealed it up and then left it on the counter one too many times. I now put it away before I start the cooking process). 

Anyway, I though 'he turn the cooktop on very low and see what happens'.  I now know it was just as i expected. The area where the food was in the can became warm, the area above there stayed cool enough to handle and a short increase in power heated the food to my satisfaction under my watchful eye. The bonus, just have to rinse and recycle, that may include using it again for the prior portioned stuff in the fridge. 

Rod

ps, the magnet stuck. 

2 hours ago, rickeieio said:

Always run the maximum air pressure stamped on the sidewall of the tire.  T/F?

Depends on if you are always or at least often at maximum weight being carried. 

4 hours ago, Chalkie said:

I peel potatoes if I am going to mash them otherwise skins are fine. I have gotten lazy on carrots and just buy the "baby" carrots. I peel cucumbers because I personally find the peels to have bitter taste.

I refrain from buying the "peeled cut carrots", way too much mark up in those things and I find they often taste terrible, but maybe I'm unlucky in picking the right bag. 

Depending on what I'm doing with the Cucumbers on how much I peel. I don't notice much of a difference in the taste, but I don't buy them often. I haven't made "Mashed" potato's for a long time. I don't actually mind them mashed with the skins and maybe even being a bit "Lumpy". 

Rod